[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6657245,"mediaKeyId","5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae","parentId",5083354,"title","Willows adopts balanced fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget","audioSeconds",1289,"startMs",2887000,"endMs",4176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae&start=2887&end=4176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae/thumbnail_2887000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6657245/Willows-City/Glenn-County/California/Willows-adopts-balanced-fiscal-year-202526-operating-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657245-64c258b848e2b43c1b336ad17669fd63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437923&Signature=DXeW1cS6flIgXhT6hA4ZmWVVPwTzKFh4D10BI-yebJ~3MD4iQlGdhR31yj5o6avOtjGQGZo7PGoewld8lHHTJ4TTK1nWoSU~KuWFBfLqhccU9MojUkXsihQ9wiKOqXp6Vt0xHgNQucpGzHokkycZU75preErsSaqioT1SvJbsogwVr5~tNpqsGjj088GOHYXt8to9Lu~UVsIb-OIPJbQNWlWYF6dxEu-deZPPc~~5DCJ-1rnmMz1F~qlHlLk2XscqDo9GKN9T9ZHg0pXUF1oJxCCq-77fU6Q-GK2Z1ByJD3Pkz-PLe8JnG8PazON6s-HBi6jR94nWAG~NR2kZzlHmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-25T16:11:53Z","article","The Willows City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget on June 24 by a 5–0 vote.

Finance staff presented an updated version of the proposed budget that incorporated a newly approved full-time librarian position and corrected an earlier line-item placement. Joanne Moore, who presented the final budget, said the edits increased expenditures from the previously presented draft; she described key increases as accounting for the sheriff contract, health insurance, negotiated salary increases from recent labor agreements, pension liability and property insurance. She also identified one-time and recurring needs including IT equipment replacement, a public works vehicle, updates to municipal code and audiovisual upgrades for council chambers.

Council members praised the budget presentation and noted the city is moving back to a balanced position. One council member observed the budget uses no general fund reserves and projected a current fiscal-year surplus of about $300,000 with a projected surplus next year of a little over $400,000. The council also noted the library’s budget increased significantly—approximately a 20% increase in the library budget—and flagged a future replacement of a fire engine expected in 2026 as a major capital consideration.

The formal motion to adopt the resolution titled “adopting the fiscal year 2025–2026 operating budget” was moved and seconded and passed on a roll call vote 5–0. After the vote, a member of the public offered brief praise for the council’s work on the budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 24, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the Fiscal Year 2025–26 operating budget 5–0; staff said the city will not use general fund reserves, projects a surplus, and added a librarian position to the proposed budget.","taxTitle","Willows City, Glenn County, California","taxId",71416,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6657250,"Willows holds first AB 2561 annual hearing on job vacancies; city reports low vacancy rate but notes turnover",601,2279000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae&start=2279&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae/thumbnail_2279000.jpg","/articles/6657250/Willows-City/Glenn-County/California/Willows-holds-first-AB-2561-annual-hearing-on-job-vacancies-city-reports-low-vacancy-rate-but-notes-turnover","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657250-884631a2cd660ec8784997e305b7c2d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437923&Signature=e-CUsBklvSwUQCBwNnbYatlfnneSKr~sYWXpXl5WQW3qVc-KDqtIBSFoHBRC8uuLNm1vSgiNG-ehktVjuP1k1Sc0mlVCKUc8gm6PUqB3v59d6URVfPoZxrFtaAQo17KPaDSArLWQs9stB2N5~A5kFUVOxXkNVi5uQJfIxpF2bi98XTlPL4C65n5TCcQm1-O7yhQaGAi4~~NBmRoShpuBGmy2-suaNLb9IUq8HN2jAjR~uesn0UhdvZcZmDSX-Xq31f-ol~CuH2gXkgO2AcQgyB496vLjKb264BHkEJx8bS~3D2RcsXiW7HoRssp-vu5mI5608~jlTk2Dmdb71fbIww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Willows held its first annual public hearing under Assembly Bill 2561 on June 24 to review city vacancies, recruitment and retention strategies. The session is required annually before the budget is approved.

City Clerk Caroline presented staffing figures: the city has 18 authorized full-time positions and reported an overall vacancy rate of 5.5% with two current vacancies at the time of the hearing. The clerk said the two vacancies were in the general bargaining unit of eight full-time employees—the mechanic and the library clerk—yielding a 25% vacancy rate within that unit. The city reported an overall retention rate of 94% and an average turnover rate of 5.5%.

The presentation summarized recruitment channels (Indeed, specialized job boards, Facebook, the city website and the county job bulletin), partnerships with Glenn County Community Action, and internship/job training programs. Retention measures described included updated compensation studies, cost-of-living adjustments, employee development and flexible schedules. Staff identified barriers including a limited applicant pool for specialized roles, lengthy background checks and noncompetitive salaries compared with larger nearby cities.

Council members asked questions about historical turnover; staff said turnover has been comparatively high over the past four years in multiple departments and that the city has not yet implemented a formal exit-interview process. Council members suggested formalizing exit interviews as an HR policy to gather data about separation reasons. The council took the matter under submission—no formal action was required beyond the hearing—and directed staff to continue recruitment and retention work and to report back.","Under AB 2561 the city presented its first annual report on job vacancies, saying Willows has 18 authorized full-time positions, a 5.5% overall vacancy rate and recruitment challenges for specialized roles; council discussed turnover and the value of exit interviews.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6657255,"Council authorizes FY25–26 assessments for Willows landscaping and lighting district",400,1802000,2202000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae&start=1802&end=2202","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae/thumbnail_1802000.jpg","/articles/6657255/Willows-City/Glenn-County/California/Council-authorizes-FY2526-assessments-for-Willows-landscaping-and-lighting-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657255-3a0bfa921a6a291effa116d05ee5bec4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437923&Signature=ZoIgsNOQApPU5zZ5CM3xVvZWaB9TZVqOGNO3L8YUmgCW38vNCSkes2EtubtYaGczT9wwJrvYrXjFJ77QgQyJRqvPYE4ExlJzRkusPP4p~PoQ7kwrNUD4Jq8pFy208JX6Up8A-soK~EBDWDA7Gr2P2Sawf-dLd6Y-lBLXP2YJhbP3pTAfzYWlhgpj83C3EiOCkfe-d8QFwzV~tqza1tcjBJqHo-YsVa8VsPnFDM-LDlVBzfBiraxrc1amV-Dm5-Fioppf~Ba8KvoteZHHNQq~3GSbtjxQErk2FVG6bIq1LX2RjyUAX7NvXTdYem0NqKGcwannBkpUOmpSzjhV7x2SrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Willows City Council on June 24 adopted a resolution approving the annual engineer's report, confirming the assessment diagram and authorizing the levy and collection of assessments for fiscal year 2025–26 for the Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District under the state Streets and Highways Code.

Joe Betancourt, who presented the item, described the district as formed in the mid-2000s and composed of three zones: Zone A (Birch Street subdivision), Zone B (around the Walmart development) and Zone C (off Harvest Drive near the cheese factory). Betancourt told the council this is the third and final step in the district’s annual process and noted assessments can rise or fall year to year based on actual costs and reserve levels. He said two of the three zones (A and C) are proposed to increase for the coming fiscal year in part to fund refurbishment of landscaping and irrigation and to support a request for proposals to contract maintenance services.

Betancourt and staff noted the council’s established policy to keep reserves in the 10–20% range for each zone and that staff sometimes uses reserves to offset assessments. The public hearing opened at 6:35 p.m.; no members of the public spoke. Council discussion included reminders that Zone A assessments have been reduced or held steady more often than increased historically and that the proposed changes would restore reserves and cover expected expenses.

A resolution to authorize the levying and collection of assessments for fiscal year 2025–26 was moved, seconded and approved by roll call (5–0). The council directed staff to proceed with the assessment process and with issuing an RFP for landscape maintenance work in the affected zones.","The council adopted a resolution confirming the annual engineer's report and authorizing the levy of assessments for the city's Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District, noting proposed increases for two zones and plans to issue an RFP for maintenance work.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6657261,"Willows council approves consent calendar including city manager contract after public objections",1493,293000,1786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae&start=293&end=1786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083354-9a46ac53885f03edfdfce564fbfaddae/thumbnail_293000.jpg","/articles/6657261/Willows-City/Glenn-County/California/Willows-council-approves-consent-calendar-including-city-manager-contract-after-public-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657261-66c68b273455f3392cd6033f595ed51b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437923&Signature=deRq7hEc7-ezb3K~tX7bjqVlqNZ2gjSRCuquvcAx56gHzZyE~2-heWA~YXaAO~PcHna-y4WCnL9iK8b8vEnjKe3KS4ELwE-~IliT9JlWQhDQ9bNULHASCuovKrianvSgzV8USThV45~25b2f5E3-UdRU4GqcDG0SvassZxOgT7jHvrRyWddy0s14U49cP~UZNYqE7IJrJBsxdbUXh56F2OxmcrS27~juWrNgQGg8aw3zk1bPhwZeLVu3x1CiHyqFB4dJ1s7-QYR4PEYC7GLmv7-9xsMX7yqHk60TwHjhFFcbGIqisbDZi6ncS56A7w1OHYQ3t3IIfCHMxRU-FpZOJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Willows City Council on June 24 approved the consent calendar, including appointments and labor agreements, and the city manager contract, by a 5-0 vote.

Public commenters objected to the timing and size of a pay adjustment for the city manager, asking the council to prioritize stalled capital projects and public safety. Maria Ehorn said she was concerned about “raising the city manager's salary” and questioned whether the city had the funds after a recent sales tax measure, saying the raise looked like “around 21%.” Madeline Kaufman urged caution: “When it comes to the city manager's raise ... I would urge you to think twice about giving her that raise.” Another resident said funds should go to reestablishing a local police force rather than to a salary increase.

Council members who spoke in support described the increases on the consent calendar as modest, overdue and necessary to retain staff. Council members and the mayor noted the city has faced multi-year fiscal pressure, that several employee groups had gone without increases while contracts were expired, and that the city manager had not received salary increases since being hired in 2021. Council members repeatedly described city staff as “dedicated” and said the measures reflected an effort to stabilize staffing and retain employees. One council member said the city manager had “worked seven days a week” and had coordinated contracts and staffing through difficult budget years.

The formal motion to approve items 6A through 6H on the consent calendar—including minutes approval, a planning commission appointment, multiple bargaining-unit agreements, a management confidential item, a health reimbursement arrangement, a full-time librarian job classification and the city manager contract—was moved and seconded and passed 5-0. The council did not alter the consent items after public comment.

The council’s action leaves the city manager contract in place as approved on the consent calendar. No additional direction to staff on the city manager contract was recorded during the meeting.","The Willows City Council approved its consent calendar, which included labor agreements and a contract for the city manager, following public comment that questioned the timing and size of a proposed pay increase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Willows adopts balanced fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget

Willows holds first AB 2561 annual hearing on job vacancies; city reports low vacancy rate but notes turnover

Council authorizes FY25–26 assessments for Willows landscaping and lighting district

Willows council approves consent calendar including city manager contract after public objections